Cup Of Justice

Last week marked the ninth anniversary of Stephen Smith’s death. Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — talk about Mandy and Liz’s latest reporting in the case and the biggest mystery that exists in the original investigation. Also on the show, Mandy is dismissed from the frivolous defamation case filed against her by a former University of South Carolina professor, who...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — listened to Dick Harpootlian’s (ridiculously long) farewell speech in the South Carolina Senate and needless to say, they have some thoughts on it. Especially when it comes to Dick’s tone-deaf defense of his own behavior defending Alex Murdaugh. Also on the show, several lawmakers around the country are seriously considering introd...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — take a look at the lawsuit filed by Buster Murdaugh against documentary filmmakers and major networks, accusing them of defamation in their Stephen Smith reporting.  Eric gives a quick primer about what defamation is and what Buster is going to have to prove in the courtroom. Mandy and Liz talk about their observations of how the m...

We are honored once again to welcome Laura Richards, world renowned and award-winning Criminal Behavioral Analyst, formerly of New Scotland Yard. Every week Laura profiles behaviors and identifies the red flags to prevent murders in slow motion on her groundbreaking and award winning podcast: Crime Analyst. Laura Richards and Mandy Matney discuss the prevalence and devastating consequences of coer...

We all want to drink from the same Cup of Justice ... and it starts with learning about our legal system. With tales from the newsroom and the courtroom, co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland invite you to gain knowledge, insight, and tools to hold public agencies and officials accountable. Beginning as bonus episodes to the Murdaugh Murders Podcast with analysis of the trials of Alex...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — talk about the latest revelations in the Mica Miller case, which they’re now referring to as the Mica FRANCIS case (in honor of Mica’s attempt before her death to shed her married name and reclaim her identity). Last week, Mica’s family announced that they are determined to make sure there’s a law to protect victims of non-physical...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — are back with their analysis of former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill’s enormous lineup of ethics charges.  Last week Becky was charged with 76 violations of the state ethics code for giving herself around $10K in bonuses with Department of Social Services money along with a litany of allegedly unauthorized purchases for...

Cup of Justice creator Mandy Matney welcomes filmmaker Erin Lee Carr to discuss high-profile cases involving suicide, online harassment, and domestic violence. They share personal experiences and insights into the legal and ethical questions surrounding these issues, emphasizing the importance of empathy and accountability. They also debate the shortcomings of the system in addressing these proble...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — talk about Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker’s controversial convocation speech, in which he essentially told women graduates that they have been told a “diabolical lie” about pursuing an existence beyond being wives and mothers.  These comments and those that support them add context to the Mica Miler case out of Myrtle Beach, South C...

Investigative journalist Liz Farrell — and everyone’s favorite attorney Eric Bland — sit down with lawyer (and journalist!) Julie Grant, host of Court TV’s “Opening Statements,” to talk about everything from Alex Murdaugh’s lies to Bill Cosby’s very worst behavior outside the courthouse to the emotional impact of the Colucci trial postponement. The three also discuss vicarious trauma and how that...

For starters, Cup of Justice has a new Instagram account @COJPOD so be sure to follow for all the updates on exciting new guests, the Colucci case, and more.  Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — talk about what went down when Eric and Sandy Smith met with investigators to talk about where things stand in the Stephen Smith case. Also on the show, turns out accused kil...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — talk about how to handle one of the worst kinds of disputes … having beef with your neighbors. How do you keep a fight with your neighbor from turning into an episode of “Fear Thy Neighbor”?  Also on the show, what the New York Court of Appeals decision overturning Harvey Weinstein’s conviction means for women and how Weinstein’s c...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney and Luna Shark Producer David Moses are joined by attorney and prosecutor Mandy Powers Norrell to discuss the complexities of prosecuting the first Colucci trial and her own experiences prosecuting domestic violence cases. On this 78th special episode of Cup of Justice, we discussed effective trial strategies for prosecutors and defense lawyers, with a focus on...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — talk about the latest breakdowns in justice system, starting with Bowen Turner, the Orangeburg, South Carolina, man whose lawyer-legislator got him a sweet (and secret) plea deal in 2023 after three girls accused him of rape. In his latest (predictable) arrest, the world FINALLY gets to see what Bowen is like firsthand as he cajole...

On today's episode Co-hosts Eric Bland and Mandy Matney got to interview one of our favorite guests so far on this show… Vinnie Politan of Court TV. Politan is an Emmy winning journalists AND a former prosecutor who combines his journalistic talents with his legal knowledge to cover some of the craziest cases in the American court system. We have always liked Vinnie Politan’s Court TV coverage of...

Right after we got back from Alex’s federal sentencing, Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell broke down observations from the courtroom. Our intrepid journalists discuss the ins and outs of the 40-year federal sentence handed down to murderer Alex Murdaugh for his financial crimes. Why is the Court allowing Alex to NOT pay fines? How is it that such a big portion of his $8 million...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland talk about the backlash they received about their Kate Middleton episode and whether the princess’ announcement about her cancer diagnosis has changed their opinions. Also on the show: a discussion about Internal Monologues and the voices that 30 to 50 percent of the population have in their heads. More similarities are getting revea...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — talk about what happens when lawyers want to back out of representing their criminal defense clients. The three also dive straight down the rabbit hole on the Kate Middleton mystery and look at why blind loyalty to the Royal Family and the British press might be coming to an end. Also on the show, a South Carolina Department of Cor...

Our mission is to get Stephen Smith's case to a place of solvability, but day to day, our goals are much smaller and much more focused on the tiniest of details. As Eric puts it, Liz and Mandy are pulling at the edges of this case in the hopes of finding more dots that can be connected by law enforcement. And so far it’s working. So far we’re finding new details and when you don’t have answers, ev...

On this highly anticipated episode of COJ, Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell interview Emmy Award-winning television host, executive producer of her acclaimed and syndicated talk show, veteran Journalist and Bestselling Author, Tamron Hall about her first Jordan Manning book 'As The Wicked Watch' and her new book in the series releasing March 12 "Watch Where They Hide". Learn more here or Order Your Co...

True Sunlight Podcast co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and everyone’s favorite attorney Eric Bland — check another item off their interview bucket list this week with one of the star witnesses from the Alex Murdaugh murder trial. Crime scene expert Dr. Kenny Kinsey sat down with Liz and Eric to talk about connecting with juries, how crimes scenes tell him the story of what happened to the victim...

Today, you’ll hear from two inspiring women from different parts of the justice system: Attorney and Legal Director for the South Carolina Victims Assistance Network Sarah Ford and Private Investigator Mackenzie Fultz aka Freedom Barbie on TikTok and Instagram. Sarah Ford met Mandy Matney as an attorney for victims in the Bowen Turner case. In this episode, you’ll hear them talk about all parts of...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland discuss Taylor Swift’s boyfriend’s big win at the Super Bowl; what a Hilton Head Island attorney’s plea deal with the feds might mean for finding Alex Murdaugh’s missing money; why a judge’s removal from the bench points to a much bigger problem in South Carolina; as well as Eric’s motion to reconsider the court’s division of Alex’s...

On the one-year anniversary as a Cup of Justice team, Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland reflect on the continued success of the show and why judges, politicians and lawyers have been hanging on their every word. Now that they’ve had a week without the constant distraction of breaking news in the Alex Murdaugh story, the three talk about Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griff...

Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland have been vindicated … once again. After four long months of screaming from the rooftops that Team Murdaugh did not have evidence of jury tampering, COJ finally gets to close the lid on that debate: There will be no new trial for murderer Alex Murdaugh. In a tumultuous hearing that lasted all day, Justice Jean Toal — who, like her co...